Apparatus for stopping the flow of sheets of material

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for individually stopping sheets of material flowing into a sheet stacker. In the manufacture of corrugated paperboard, a plurality of individual sheets are conveyed side by side in an overlapping shingle pattern to a bundle stacker for removal. When bundles are completed, brake members engage the sheets to increase the overlapping of the shingle pattern to allow accumulation of sheets while the bundles are removed. Individualized gates mounted on the brake members stop the flow of sheets. The gates take the form of pivotally mounted finger members operated by a fluid motor. The finger members are pivoted into a sheet stopping position by the fluid motor when the brake members engage the sheets. The fluid motor is controlled by the cycling of the bundle stacker. Additionally, some of the gates may be provided with a biasing control system which will prevent the finger members from assuming a sheet stopping position when no sheets are present at the position controlled by that particular gate.

United States Patent 1191 Vogt 1451 Apr. 16, 1974 APPARATUS FOR STOPPINGTHE FLOW OF SHEETS OF MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Thomas E. Vogt, Toledo,Ohio [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc., Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec.4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 311,477

[52] US. Cl ..2 1/1 2, 271/229 [51] Int. Cl. B65h 5/24, B65h 9/14 [58]Field of Search 271/46, 50, 47, 56, 6O

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,708,162 1/1973 Skudlarek271 47 3,373,666 3/1968 Crampton... 271/46 X 1,068,477 7/1913 Bakke,271/60 3,683,758 8/1972 Feldkamper.... 271/46 X 3,118,663 1/1964 Logan271/60 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 271/60 PrimaryExamine r Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-James W. Miller Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Steve M. McLary; E. J.

Holler 5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for individually stopping sheets ofmaterial flowing into a sheet stacker. In the manufacture of corrugatedpaperboard, a plurality of individual sheets are conveyed side by sidein an overlapping shingle pattern to a bundle stacker for removal. Whenbundles are completed, brake members engage the sheets to increase theoverlapping of the shingle pattern to allow accumulation of sheets whilethe bundles are removed. Individualized gates mounted on the brakemembers stop the flow of sheets. The gates take the form of pivotallymounted finger members operated by a fluid motor. The finger members arepivoted into a sheet stopping position by the fluid motor when the brakemembers engage the sheets. The fluid motor is controlled by the cyclingof the bundle stacker. Additionally, some of the gates may be providedwith a biasing control system which will prevent the finger members fromassuming a sheet stopping position when no sheets are present at theposition controlled by that particular gate.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 151914 3.804.403

' sum 1 or 4 FIG. 3 k

APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF SHEETS OF MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention'generally relates to apparatus for handlingsheets of material. More specifically, this invention relates toapparatus for handling sheets of corrugated paperboard. Mostparticularly, this invention relates to apparatus for stopping the flowof sheets of corrugated paperboard to a sheet stacking mechanism while acompleted stack of sheets is removed therefrom.

In the handling of sheets of corrugated paperboard, it is well known inthe prior art to position a gate in front of the flow of sheets to stopthe flow while a completed stack is removed from a sheet stacker.However, the prior art gates were usually a single gate which extendedacrossthe entire width of the conveyor carrying the sheets toward thesheet stacker. This arrangement was less than satisfactory, because theposition of the gate was such that it was difficult to positively engagethe sheets to hold them. Thus, sheets frequently bypassed the gateleading to erratic operation of the sheet stacker. In addition, thesingle gate did not allow compensation for differences in individualsheets across the width of the sheet conveyor. My invention is aplurality ofindividual gates for stopping the flow of sheets, the

individual gates acting to overcome the problems presented by the singlegate of the prior art. An example of the single gate of the prior artmay be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,024. 1 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement in anapparatus for feeding substantially flat sheets of material. In theapparatus, a plurality of sheets of material are advanced on acontinuously moving conveyor in an overlying pattern with at least twosheets abreast to a sheet stacking mechanism. A brake means isperiodically brought into contact with the sheets of material to effectan increase in the overlap of one sheet on another to thereby providetime to allow removal of completed bundles of sheets from the sheetstacking mechanism. The improvement in the apparatus comprises pluralgate means mounted on the brake means for stopping the advance of thesheets when the sheets are engaged by the brake means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of theapparatus of the present invention in its operational environment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofa single one of the individualizedgates of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, on a reducedscale;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit of the presentinvention in the inactive-paper present condition;

FIG. 5 is the diagram of FIG. 4 showing the activepaper presentcondition;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit of the presentinvention in the inactive-paper not present condition; and

FIG. 7 is the diagram of FIG. 6 showing the activepaper not presentcondition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a stream-flowinterrupter 10, which is shown in detail in co-pending application U.S.Ser. No. 123,557, filed Mar. 12, 1971, now U.S. Pat. 3,708,162, andhaving an assignee in common with the assignee of the present invention.The teachings of application U.S. Ser. No. 123,557, now U.S. Pat.3,708,168, are herein incorporated by reference. The stream-flowinterrupter 10 is used to interrupt the flow of a stream of flatarticles, such as sheets of corrugated paperboard 12, in order to allowbundles of the corrugated paperboard 12 to be removed from a stackingstation. The flow of material is from left to right, as seen in FIG. 1,and the stacking station is not shown. The sheets of paperboard 12 areconveyed along an endless moving belt-type conveyor 14. The sheets ofpaperboard 12 on the conveyor 14 are in a shingled pattern, that is onesheet is traveling partially overlying another sheet. When the flow ofthe sheets 12 is interrupted, the distance one sheet overlies another isincreased as the sheets press forwardl and attempt to continue to move,although their movement has been stopped. In the prior art, the movementof the sheets was stopped by interposing a single gate at the end of theconveyor 14 just before the stacking mechanism. However, as previouslyexplained, the use of a single gate has not proven to be successful.Thus, my invention resides in providing each of the sheet-shinglingmechanisms of the stream-flow interrupter 10 with an individualized gatefor stopping the flow of sheets 12. These individualized gatesare-arrayed across the width of the conveyor 14 and are designated inFIG. 1 as elements 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 2l. As is well known tothose skilled in the art of handling sheets of material, the width ofthe conveyor 14 may vary in different manufacturing operations. Thus,the provision of seven individualized gates is simply an example, andthere may be more or less than seven individualized gate mechanisms,depending upon the: particular circumstances. When it is desired tocease feeding of sheets 12, individualized brake members 22 are droppedinto position just above the sheets 12 to allow the shingling effect totake place. The brake members 22 are elongated U-shaped channels withthe open end of the channels facing upward. The operation of the brakemembers 22 is explained in detail in pending application U.S. Ser. No.123,557.

The conveyor 14 is supported, in part, by two vertical uprights 24 and25. Attached to the upright 24 is a valve plate 26. The valve plate 26is preferably rectangularly shaped and mounted horizontally on thevertical upright 24. Attached to the valve plate 26 are five two-wayvalves 28. The valves 28 are all identical and are of the type which arespring-loaded to give one preferred flow direction and have a manuallyoperable knob 29 to switch the flow through them to the other direction.Also mounted on the valve plate 26 is a manifold 30, which contains afluid under pressure. Each of the valves 28 is connected to the manifold30 with a suitable pipe 32. Fluid under pressure, preferablyhighpressure air, is furnished to the manifold 30 through an inletpipeline 33 connected to a main inlet pipe 34 from a source of air notshown. Each of the valves 28 has an outlet pipeline 36, whose connectionwill be shown later with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7. Also mounted onthe valve plate 26 is a solenoid-operated four-way valve 38. The valve38 has a single inlet pipe 40 connected to the main inlet line 34. Thefour-way valve 38 has two outlet pipes 42 and 43. The first outlet pipe42 is connected to a first manifold 44, and the second outlet pipe 43 isconnected to a second manifold 45. The manifolds 44 and 45 extend acrosssubstantially the entire width of the conveyor 14 and are attached tothe two uprights 24 and 25. The outlet piping from the manifolds 44 and45 has been omitted in FIG. 1 for clarity. That is, there are aplurality of outlets from the manifolds 44 and 45, and it is believedthat showing each of these individual outlets would confuse theillustration of FIG. 1. The connections from the manifolds 44 and 45will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7. From thedescription to be given therein, it is believed that one skilled in theart could readily understand the connections from the manifolds 44 and45. A final input to the solenoid valve 38 is an electrical line 46,which turns the solenoid valve 38 on and off. The valve 38 is of thetype such that a spring holds the valve 38 in one flow configuration,and when the solenoid portion of the valve is energized, the valve isshifted to present another flow configuration through the valve 38.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mechanical operation of theindividualized gate mechanisms through 21 will be explained. As apreliminary point, it should be understood that the mechanismillustrated in FIGS.

2 and 3 is the gate mechanism 17. The mechanical mechanism is identicalfor all the mechanisms 15 through 21, but the control functions of thefirst two mechanisms 15 and 16 varies from those of the others. Alifting arm 48 is pivotally connected to the brake member 22 through aclevis mount 50 attached to the brake member 22 and a pivot pin 51 whichextends through the clevis mount and the lifting arm 48. The lifting arm48 may be raised to the position shown in phantom lines'in FIG. 2 toremove the brake members 22 from the stream of the sheets 12. Withspecific reference now to the elements which make up the individualizedgate mechanism 17, an L-shaped rock arm 52 is pivotally mounted on thepivot pin 51, with a leg portion of the rock arm 52 extending upwardly.The foot portion of the rock arm 52 is of sufficient length to clear theend of the brake member 22. Mounted on the opposite side of the liftingarm 48 from the rock arm 52 is a substantially rectangular rock arm 54.The rock arm 54 is of substantially identical configuration to thelower, or foot portion of the L-shaped rock arm' 52. This may best beseen by reference to FIG. 3. The two rock arms 52 and 54 are tiedtogether as a unit with a connector plate 56. Thus, movement of theL-shaped rock arm 52 will also cause the movement of the arm 54. Mountedon the extending portion of the two rock arms 52 and 54 is a downwardlydepending finger member 58. The finger member 58 is of sufficient lengthto extend below'the bottom of the brake member 22 and come into contactwith the horizontal plane of travel of the sheets 12 when it is fullyextended. In addition, the finger member 58 is so constructed that itswidth is greater than the width of the brake member 22. This is not ofextremely critical importance, but it has been found that the sheets 12may best be controlled if the width of the finger member 58 is somewhatgreater than that of the brake members 22. Attached to the side of thebrake member 22, adjacent the L-shaped rock arm 52, is a verticallyextending mounting plate 60. A fluid motor 62 has its blind endpivotally attached to the upper portion of the mounting plate 60. Thefluid motor 62 serves as a power means for moving the individualizedgates 15-21 into and out of the path of travel of the sheets 12. Anextensible operating rod 64 of the fluid motor 62 carries on its extremeend portion a clevis mounting bracket 66. The clevis mounting bracket 66is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the leg of the L-shapedrock arm 52. Thus, it should be clear that extension and retraction ofthe operating rod 64 will cause the two rocks arms 52 and 54 to bepivoted by the motion of the operating rod 64. This, in turn, will pivotthe finger member 58, since it is attached to the rock arms 52 and 54.Also attached to the mounting plate 60 is a four-way valve 68. The valve68 is of the type which is spring-loaded in one direction of flow and isoperable by the introduction of air to overcome the spring bias toredirect the flow from the valve 68. The valve 68 has a first inletpipeline 69 from the manifold 44 and a second inlet pipeline 70 from themanifold 45. A third inlet pipeline 72, connected to the four-way valve68, provides a passage for air which shifts the flow-direction positionof the fourway valve 68. The four-way valve 68 has three outletpipelines from it. A first outlet pipeline 74 is connected to a pipeline75, which is connected to the rod end of the fluid motor 62. A secondoutlet pipeline 76, from the four-way valve 68, is connected to theblind end of the fluid motor 62. A third outlet pipe 78, from the valve68, is connected to a check valve 79. An outlet pipeline 80, from thecheck valve 79, is connected to the inlet pipeline 75 to the fluid motor62.

It may also be seen in FIG. 2 that a means for adjusting the loweredposition of the finger member 58 is provided. An elongated bolt 57 isthreadably engaged in a threaded hole extending through the connectorplate 56. The length of the bolt 57 is'such that it can bottom on theweb of the brake member 22. When this occurs, the motion of the fingermember 58 will also stop, since it is tied to the connector plate 56.This allows adjustment of the active or lowered position of the fingermember 58 for differing thicknesses of sheets 12. An upper position ofthe finger member 58 resulting from extending the bolt 57 towardthebrake member 22 is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 as 58A. A stopnut 59 holds the bolt 57 in whatever position that may be selected. 7

Before proceeding to a discussion of FIGS. 4 through 7, which explainthe functioning of the individualized gate mechanismslS through 21, itis necessary to understand the operation of the corrugating processwhich utilizes the stream-flow interrupter l0. Normally, the entirewidth of the conveyor 14 is not utilized for conveying the sheets 12.That is, the sheets 12, which are being transported, may extend acrossonly half of the width of the conveyor 14. The conveyor 14 is normallywide enough to accept the entire output of a corrugating machine, butwhen the total width of the output corrugated material is slit intoindividual widths, some of the widths may be transferred to a conveyor,such as the conveyor 14, which is above the conveyor 14. This is done inorder to allow the width of the sheet of corrugated material produced bya corrugator to be slit longitudinally into sheets which have differingwidths. Therefore, some of the individualized gate mechanisms 15 through21 will not have-any sheets 12 to stop. Usually, the conveyor 14 isoperated in such a manner as to have sheets always under either thefirst two mechanisms and 16 or the outside two mechanisms and 21. Inthis particular example, it is assumed that sheets 12 will always beunder the first two individualizedgate mechanisms 15 and 16. Therefore,these two particular mechanisms 15 and 16 will not have a four-way valve68 nor a two-way valve 28 associated with. them. Their functioning maybe completely controlled. by the use of the solenoid valve 38. How ever,if desired,these mechanisms may be provided with the aforementionedvalves and can be operated in the manner as will be explained withrespect to the other mechanisms 17 through 21.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 through 7, the cycling of theindividualized gate mechanisms 15 through 21 will be discussed. Thesolenoid valve 38 is the main control valve for all of the mechanisms 15through 21. The solenoid valve cycling is controlled by an electricalsignal which is furnished to the solenoid valve 38 through the electricline 46. The signal itself is generated in a bundle stacking apparatus,which is the subject of a co-pending US. patent application U.S. Ser.No. 123,325, filed Mar. 11, 197i, and'having an assignee in common withthe assignee of the present invention. The teachings of application U.S.Ser. No. 123,325 are hereby incorporated by reference. The bundlestacking apparatus is the device which receives sheets of corrugatedpaperboard 12 from the conveyor 14. It is the next device in line fromthe conveyor 14. The signal generated in the bundle stacking apparatusis such that, so long as sheets 12 are being fed into the bundlestacking apparatus to form bundles, an electrical signal is present inthe line 46 maintaining the solenoid valve 38 in the flow position shownin FIG. 4. In this condition, air is furnished through the main inletpipeline 34 to the inlet pipeline 40 connected to the solenoid valve 38.Exiting from the solenoid valve 38, the pipeline 42 is connected to themanifold 44, and the pipeline 43 is connected to the manifold 45. Withthe flow condition shown in FIG. 4, the manifold 44 is pressurized, andthe manifold 45 acts as an exhaust reservoir for the fluid motors 62.The manifold 44 is directly connected to the rod end of the fluid motors62 for the gate mechanisms 15 and 16. Likewise, the manifold 45 isdirectly connected to the blind end of the fluid motors 62 for themechanisms 15 and 16. The mechanisms 17 through 21, however, areconnected to the manifolds 44 and 45 through the valve 68, as previouslydiscussed. A plurality of outlet pipelines 69 connect the manifold 44 toa first inlet of the valves 68. Likewise, a plurality of pipelines 70connect the manifold 45 to a second inlet of the valve 68. Theconfiguration shown in FIG. 4 is the configuration of the valve 68 forthe condition when there will be sheets of material 12 to be stopped bythe gate mechanisms 17 through 21. In this condition, an air signal isfurnished via the control air inlet 72 to the valve 68 from the two-wayvalve 28. The two-way valves 28. are set in such; a configuration thatair will be admitted to the control side of the valve 68 and will holdthe valve 68 in the flow conditions shown in FIG. 4 until the mechanicaloperating knob 29 for the valve 28 is reset by an operator. Thus, FIG. 4shows the conditionwhich prevails during the time that sheets ofmaterial 12 are being fed into the bundle stacking apparatus. Air flowsfrom the manifold 44 through the inlet pipeline 69, through the valve68, through the first outlet pipeline 74 fromthe valve 68, and throughthe pipeline 75 into the rod end of the fluid motor 62. This flow ofpressurized air holds a slidably-mounted piston 82 contained within thefluid motor 62 in a retracted position toward the blind end of the fluidmotor 62. The piston, of course, controls the functioning of theoperating rod 64, and the operating rod 64 is thus retracted, holdingthe finger portion 58, of the gate mechanism 17, in the upward orretracted position, as

shown in phantom lines in FIG.2. The second outlet from the valve 68,connected to the pipeline 76, is connected to the blind end of the fluidmotor 62. As the flow arrows clearly show, this particular path providesan exhaust path for air to be exhausted through the blind end of thefluid motor 62, as required by the introduction of pressurized air tothe rod end of the fluid motor 62. The third outlet of the valve 68 isclosed at this time, and air is further prevented from flowing towardthis outlet by virtue of the check valve 79, which is interposed incircuit between the pressurized air in the pipeline 74 and the pipeline80, which is connected with the pipelines 74 and 75.

FIG. 5 illustrates the flow conditions prevailing when it is desired tocease the feeding of sheets of material 12 into the bundle buildingapparatus. At this time, the electrical signal carried by the line 46ceases, and the spring within the valve 38 shifts the: valve 38 to theflow position shown in FIG. 5. In this configuration, the pressurizedair exits from the second outlet of the valve 38, pressurizes themanifold 45, which in turn furnishes air to the valve 68 through thepipeline 70. The second outlet of the valve 68 remains connected to theblind end of the fluid motor 62 through the pipeline 76. Withpressurized air now furnished to the blind end of the fluid motor 62,the piston 82 of the fluid motor 62 will be forced to the right, as seenin FIG. 5, thus extending the operating rod 64 and causing the fingerportion 58 to pivot downwardly and thus stop any sheets of material 12which are in its path. The pipeline 75 is connected back to the manifold44 through the pipeline 74, the valve 68 and the pipeline 69, with themanifold 44 now serving as an exhausting manifold for the air forced outof the fluid motor 62. This air then exhausts through the valve 38 bypassing through the pipeline 42. When it is desired to resume feeding ofsheets of material 12 to the bundle stacking mechanism, the electricalsignal is once again resumed in the electrical line 46 and the valve 38is shifted to the flow position shown in FIG. 4, with the resultantretraction of the piston 82 and the operating rod 64 causing the fingermembers 58 to be pivoted into their retracted position out of the pathof travel of the sheets of material 12. Thus, it should be clear thatthe solenoid valve 38, connected to a source of fluid under pressure,the manifolds 44 and 45, the electrical line 46 which controls thesolenoid valves 38, and the associated interconnecting pipelines serveas a control means connected to the fluid motor 62 for cycling the fluidmotor 62 in response to the removal of completed bundles of sheets.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the situation which prevails when it is desiredthat one or more of the individualized gate mechanisms 17 through 21 beprevented from functioning, due to the absence of paper in the positioncontrolled by that particular gate mechanism. It should be emphasizedagain that this function is controlled by means of the valves 28, 68 andthe check valve 79, but the function is not an absolute requirement forthe present to be stopped by the gate. However, in the general case, thefunctioning of the individualized gate mechanisms will not seriouslyinterfere with the operation of the stream flow interrupter 10, eventhough sheets 12 are not present at a particular position. Thus,

the description to be given with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7 should beconsidered an optional feature which may or may not be used. The valve28 has been shifted from the flow configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5to the flow configuration of FIG. 6 by operation of its operating knob29. Thus, there is no flow of air through the valve 28 and out thepipeline 36 to the valve 68. The valves 28 thus act as a switch meansconnected to the valves 68 for supplying a control signal to the valves68 at the discretion of the machine operator. The cessation of flow tothe valve 68 allows the spring within the valve 68 to shift the flowpattern through the valve 68 to that shown in FIG. 6. In thisconfiguration, the first outlet port of the valve 68 through thepipeline 74 is blocked. The second outlet port of the valve 68 throughthe pipeline 76 is connected to the blind end of the fluid motor 62. Thethird outlet of the valve 68 is connected through the pipeline 78 to thecheck valve 79. In this condition, air is furnished through the valve38, to the blind side of the fluid motor 62 from the pipelines 76, 69,42 and the manifold 44. This is the condition which prevails, as will berecalled from FIGS. 4 and 5, when the individualized gate mechanisms arein a retracted position and paper is being fed into the bundle stackingmechanism. Thus, it would appear that the operating rod 64 of the fluidmotor 62 would be extended, which is contrary to the position that theoperating rod 64 should assume in this condition. However, carefulconsideration of the flow paths available will show that the rod end ofthe fluid motor 62 cannot exhaust through the pipeline 75, as would berequired to allow the operating rod 64 to extend. That is, the pipeline75 is connected to the pipeline 74 and the pipeline 80. As pointed out,the pipeline 74 is connected to a port of the valve 68, which isblocked. Thus, there can be no flow through the pipeline 74. Thepipeline 80 is connected to the check valve 79. The check valve 79allows flow only in the direction away from the valve 68. Thus, as thepiston 82 moves to the right, as seen in FIG. 6, and attempts to expelthe air from in front of it, the check valve 79 will close and resistthe movement of this air. The net result will be that the piston 82 willassume some intermediate position within the fluid motor 62 when abalance of pressures on both sides of it are reached. The operating rod64 thus assumes an indeterminate position during this period of time.

When the control signal furnished to the valve 38 through the electricalline 46 ceases, as is the case when cessation of feeding of sheets 12 tothe bundle stacking mechanism is required, the flow path shown in FIG. 7results. The valve 38 is shifted to allow the highpressure air to flowthrough the pipeline 43 connected to the second outlet port of the valve38. From the pipeline 43, the air pressurizes the manifold 45 and is fedthrough the pipelines 70 into the valves 68. Those valves 68 which havebeen shifted, as shown in FIG. 6, to the inaction position, allow thispressurized air to flow out through the outlet pipe v78 connected to thethird outlet port of the valve 68. Air flowing through this outlet pipe78 will pass by the check valve 79, since, as previously pointed out,the check valve 79 allows flow away from the valve 68 but stops flowtoward the valve 68. The pipeline 80 connects the check valve 79 to thepipeline 75, which is connected to the rod end of the fluid motor 62.Thus, it may be seen that the high-pressure air will flow through thepipeline into the rod end of the fluid motor 62 and cause the operatingrod 64 to be retracted. The retraction of the operating rod 65 then, ofcourse, pivots the finger member 58 of the mechanism upward and out ofthe active position. Thus, even though the shifting of the valve 38normally causes the operation of the finger member 58 into a sheetstopping position, with the valve 28 shifted and the valve 68 shifted inresponse thereto, the actuation of the mechanism actually causes thefinger member 58 to be retracted positively out of a sheet engagingposition. Thus, there is no interference whatsoever with any sheets 12adjacent to a position which has no material present in thisconfiguration. It should be noted that the pipeline 76 connected to theblind end of the fluid motor 62 connects through the valve 68 to thepipeline 69, the manifold 44 and the pipeline 42, which is connected tothe valve 38. The valve 38 allows a free flow path, and thus the airwhich is behind the pistons 82 is exhausted through the valve 38 in thisparticular situation. Therefore, the valves 68, 28 and 79 and theirassociated interconnecting piping serve as a biasing means in fluidcircuit between the manifolds 44 and 45 and the fluid motor 62 forholding selected individualized gates in an inoperative position whenthere are no sheets 12 present at the location controlled by theselected individualized gate in question.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for feeding substantially flat sheets of material,wherein a plurality of sheets of material are advanced on a continuouslymoving conveyor in an overlying pattern with at least two sheets abreastto a sheet stacking mechanism, and wherein a brake means is periodicallybrought into contact with said sheets of material to effect an increasein the overlap of one sheet on another to thereby provide time to allowremoval of completed bundles of sheets from said sheet stackingmechanism, the improvement which comprises: plural gate means mounted onsaid brake means for stopping the advance of said sheets when saidsheets are engaged by said brake means, said gate means including aplurality of individualized gates, arrayed transversely with respect tosaid conveyor in a spacedapart configuration; power means attached toeach of said individualized gates for independently moving each of saidindividualized gates into and out of the path of travel of said sheets;and control means connected to said power means for cycling said powermeans in response to the removal of completed bundles of sheets.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said brake means includes aplurality of elongated brake members arrayed transversely with respectto said conveyor in a spaced-apart configuration, and a plurality ofpivotally mounted lifting arms attached to each of said brake membersfor raising and lowering said brake members; and wherein each of saidindividualized gates com- 9 prises, in combination: a first rock armpivotally mounted on said lifting arm and extending beyond the end ofsaid brake member; a second rock arm pivotally mounted on said liftingarm on the opposite side thereof from said first rock arm and extendingbeyond the end of said brake member; a connector plate attached to bothsaid first and second rock arms, whereby movement of one of said rockarms will also move the other; and a downwardly depending finger memberattached to the free ends of both of said first and said second rockarms, movement of said rock arms acting to move said finger member froma raised position clear of said sheets to and from a lowered positioninterfering with the path of travel of said sheets.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said power means comprises: areciprocating fluid motor, having a slidable piston contained withinsaid fluid motor and an extensible operating rod attached to said pistonat one end thereof, the free end of said operating rod extending beyondsaid fluid motor to define the rod end thereof with the opposite end ofsaid fluid motor being defined as the blind end thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including: means for pivotallymounting the blind end of said fluid motor on said brake member; andmeans for pivotally attaching the free end of said operating rod to oneof said rock arms at a point remote from the pivot point for said rockarm.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further including means for adjusting thelowered position of said finger member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said connector plate has a threadedhole extending vertically through it, and wherein said means foradjusting the lowered position of said finger member comprises athreaded bolt engaged with said threaded hole in said connector plate,said bolt being threadable adjustable in said hole to change the pointat which saidbolt will contact said brake member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power means comprises: areciprocating fluid motor, having a slidable piston contained withinsaid fluid motor, and an extensible operating rod attached to saidpiston at one end thereof, the free end of said operating rod extendingbeyond said fluid motor to define the rod end thereof with the oppositeend of said fluid motor being defined as the blind end thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said control means includes: asource of fluid under pressure; a fourway fluid directional controlvalve, solenoid operated in one direction and spring biased in the otherdirection, having its inlet connected to said source of fluid underpressure; a first fluid manifold; a first outlet pipeline connected to afirst outlet of said solenoid operated valve and to said first manifold;a'second fluid V manifold; a second outlet pipeline connected to asecond outlet of said solenoid operated valve and to said secondmanifold; a plurality of pipelines connecting said first manifold to therod end of each of said fluid motors; a plurality of pipelinesconnecting said second manifold to the blind end of each of said fluidmotors; and means electrically connecting said solenoid operated valveto said sheet stacking mechanism for energizing said solenoid operatedvalve so longas a stack of 10 sheets is being formed, the porting ofsaid solenoid operated valve being such that said source of fluid underpressure is connected to said first manifold when said solenoid operatedvalve is energized and connected to said second manifold when saidsolenoid operated valve is de-energized. I

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including biasing means, interposedin fluid circuit between said first and second manifolds and said fluidmotors, for holding selected individualized gates in an inoperativeposition when there are no sheets present at the location controlled bysaid selected individualized gates.

10. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said biasing means comprises: aplurality of four-way fluid directional control valves, air pilotoperated in one flow direction and spring biased in the other flowdirection, one valve being provided for each of said biasedindividualized gates; a plurality of pipelines connecting said firstmanifold to a first inlet of said air pilot operated valves; a pluralityof pipelines connecting said second manifold to a second inlet of saidair pilot operated valves; a plurality of first biasing outlet pipelinesconnecting a first outlet of said air pilot operated valves to the rodends of said fluid motors; a plurality of second biasing outletpipelines connecting a second outlet of said air pilot operated valvesto the blind ends of said fluid motors; a plurality of third biasingoutlet pipelines connected to a third outlet of said air pilot operatedvalves; a plurality of check valves, positioned to allow flow only fromsaid third outlets of said air pilot operated valves, connected to saidthird biasing outlet pipelines; a plurality of cross-connectingpipelines connecting the outlet of said check valves intosaid firstbiasing outlet pipelines; and switch means connected to said air pilotoperated valves for supplying a control signal to said air pilotoperated valves at the discretion of the operator of said feedingapparatus, the porting of said air pilot operated valves being such thatsaid first manifold is connected to said first biasing outlet pipelinesand said second manifold is connected to said second biasing outletpiplines so long as said control signal is present, and said firstmanifold is connected to said second biasing outlet pipelines and saidsecond manifold is connected to said third biasing outlet pipelines whensaid control signal is not present.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said switch means comprises: aplurality of two-way fluid directional control valves, spring biased inone flow direction and manually switchable to the other flow direction,one two-way valve being provided for each of said plurality of airpilot-operated valves; a plurality of control pipelines connecting theoutlets of said two-way valves to a control inlet port of said air pilotoperated valves; means for connecting said source of fluid underpressure to the inlet of each of said two-way valves; and a manuallyoperable knob attached to each of said twoway valves operable toindividually stop and start the flow of fluid through said controlpipelines.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including, biasing means forholding selected ones of said individualized gates in an inoperativeposition when there are no sheets present at the location controlled bysaid selected individualized gates.

1. In an apparatus for feeding substantially flat sheets of material,wherein a plurality of sheets of material are advanced on a continuouslymoving conveyor in an overlying pattern with at least two sheets abreastto a sheet stacking mechanism, and wherein a brake means is periodicallybrought into contact with said sheets of material to effect an increasein the overlap of one sheet on another to thereby provide time to allowremoval of completed bundles of sheets from said sheet stackingmechanism, the improvement which comprises: plural gate means mounted onsaid brake means for stopping the advance of said sheets when saidsheets are engaged by said brake means, said gate means including aplurality of individualized gates, arrayed transversely with respect tosaid conveyor in a spaced-apart configuration; power means attached toeach of said individualized gates for independently moving each of saidindividualized gates into and out of the path of travel of said sheets;and control means connected to said power means for cycling said powermeans in response to the removal of completed bundles of sheets.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said brake means includes a plurality ofelongated brake members arrayed transversely with respect to saidconveyor in a spaced-apart configuration, and a plurality of pivotallymounted lifting arms attached to each of said brake members for raisingand lowering said brake members; and wherein each of said individualizedgates comprises, in combination: a first rock arm pivotally mounted onsaid lifting arm and extending beyond the end of said brake member; asecond rock arm pivotally mounted on said lifting arm on the oppositeside thereof from said first rock arm and extending beyond the end ofsaid brake member; a connector plate attached to both said first andsecond rock arms, whereby movement of one of said rock arms will alsomove the other; and a downwardly depending finger member attached to thefree ends of both of said first and said second rock arms, movement ofsaid rock arms acting to move said finger member from a raised positionclear of said sheets to and from a lowered position interfering with thepath of travel of said sheets.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein saidpower means comprises: a reciprocating fluid motor, having a slidablepiston contained within said fluid motor and an extensible operating rodattached to said piston at one end thereof, the free end of saidoperating rod extending beyond said fluid motor to define the rod endthereof with the opposite end of said fluid motor being defined as theblind end thereof.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including: meansfor pivotally mounting the blind end of said fluid motor on said brakemember; and means for pivotally attaching the free end of said operatingrod to one of said rock arms at a point remote from the pivot point forsaid rock arm.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, further including means foradjusting the lowered position of said finger member.
 6. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein said connector plate has a threaded hole extendingvertically through it, and wherein said means for adjusting the loweredposition of said finger member comprises a threaded bolt engaged withsaid threaded hole in said connector plate, said bolt being threadableadjustable in said hole to change the point at which said bolt willcontact said brake member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidpower means comprises: a reciprocating fluid motor, having a slidablepiston contained within said fluid motor, and an extensible operatingrod attached to said piston at one end thereof, the free end of saidoperating rod extending beyond said fluid motor to define the rod endthereoF with the opposite end of said fluid motor being defined as theblind end thereof.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said controlmeans includes: a source of fluid under pressure; a four-way fluiddirectional control valve, solenoid operated in one direction and springbiased in the other direction, having its inlet connected to said sourceof fluid under pressure; a first fluid manifold; a first outlet pipelineconnected to a first outlet of said solenoid operated valve and to saidfirst manifold; a second fluid manifold; a second outlet pipelineconnected to a second outlet of said solenoid operated valve and to saidsecond manifold; a plurality of pipelines connecting said first manifoldto the rod end of each of said fluid motors; a plurality of pipelinesconnecting said second manifold to the blind end of each of said fluidmotors; and means electrically connecting said solenoid operated valveto said sheet stacking mechanism for energizing said solenoid operatedvalve so long as a stack of sheets is being formed, the porting of saidsolenoid operated valve being such that said source of fluid underpressure is connected to said first manifold when said solenoid operatedvalve is energized and connected to said second manifold when saidsolenoid operated valve is de-energized.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,further including biasing means, interposed in fluid circuit betweensaid first and second manifolds and said fluid motors, for holdingselected individualized gates in an inoperative position when there areno sheets present at the location controlled by said selectedindividualized gates.
 10. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein saidbiasing means comprises: a plurality of four-way fluid directionalcontrol valves, air pilot operated in one flow direction and springbiased in the other flow direction, one valve being provided for each ofsaid biased individualized gates; a plurality of pipelines connectingsaid first manifold to a first inlet of said air pilot operated valves;a plurality of pipelines connecting said second manifold to a secondinlet of said air pilot operated valves; a plurality of first biasingoutlet pipelines connecting a first outlet of said air pilot operatedvalves to the rod ends of said fluid motors; a plurality of secondbiasing outlet pipelines connecting a second outlet of said air pilotoperated valves to the blind ends of said fluid motors; a plurality ofthird biasing outlet pipelines connected to a third outlet of said airpilot operated valves; a plurality of check valves, positioned to allowflow only from said third outlets of said air pilot operated valves,connected to said third biasing outlet pipelines; a plurality ofcross-connecting pipelines connecting the outlet of said check valvesinto said first biasing outlet pipelines; and switch means connected tosaid air pilot operated valves for supplying a control signal to saidair pilot operated valves at the discretion of the operator of saidfeeding apparatus, the porting of said air pilot operated valves beingsuch that said first manifold is connected to said first biasing outletpipelines and said second manifold is connected to said second biasingoutlet piplines so long as said control signal is present, and saidfirst manifold is connected to said second biasing outlet pipelines andsaid second manifold is connected to said third biasing outlet pipelineswhen said control signal is not present.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein said switch means comprises: a plurality of two-way fluiddirectional control valves, spring biased in one flow direction andmanually switchable to the other flow direction, one two-way valve beingprovided for each of said plurality of air pilot-operated valves; aplurality of control pipelines connecting the outlets of said two-wayvalves to a control inlet port of said air pilot operated valves; meansfor connecting said source of fluid under pressure to the inlet of eachof said two-way valves; and a manually operable knob Attached to each ofsaid two-way valves operable to individually stop and start the flow offluid through said control pipelines.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1,further including, biasing means for holding selected ones of saidindividualized gates in an inoperative position when there are no sheetspresent at the location controlled by said selected individualizedgates.